Mario Mims (born May 19, 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee), better known by his s… Read Full Bio ↴Mario Mims (born May 19, 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee), better known by his stage name Yo Gotti, is an American rapper signed to Cash Money Records. Formerly known as Lil Yo in the 90's, he released his first album, From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, in 2000. Since then he has released 2001's Self-Explanatory, 2003's Life, 2006's Back 2 Da Basics, 2008's Cocaine Muzik, 2009's CM2 (Cocaine Muzik 2 hosted by DJ Drama), and The Pyrex King: Street Runnaz Special Edition.
As one of the six epicenters of Southern hip hop, Memphis has always had a thriving underground capable of producing major platinum superstars such as Eightball & MJG, 3-6 Mafia and Project Pat,Skip a.k.a Gianni Booker. All of the above-mentioned artists at one point in time literally dominated the city’s underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Town’s current underground rap kingpin. Like his namesake John Gotti, the Memphis based rapper has been running the Southern underground scene with an iron fist for the past. Known and respected throughout the South for his skill and finesse on the microphone, Yo Gotti is one the South’s most respected young rappers.
Born Mario Mims, Yo Gotti grew up in the infamous Ridge Crest Apartments in a North Memphis neighborhood called Frazier. His childhood was typical for a poor ghetto youth in the Deep South. Raised in a family of hustlers and exposed to hard times 24 hours a day the Tennessee rap titan soon turned to the only thing that he knew could get him paid, hustling. “Being from the hood things like hustling will come your way,” says Yo Gotti. “Everybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.” Ironically, hustling is what ultimately led Yo Gotti to rapping.
Taking his cue from Memphis rap legends such as Eightball & MJG, Al Kapone, Gangsta Black, Triple 6 Mafia and Kingpin Skinny Pimp, all of whom he lists as influences, Yo Gotti released his own underground tape entitled, Youngster on the Come Up and placed it on consignment at local mom & pop record stores as well as hustling it out the trunk. The tape sold like hotcakes on the street and made Yo Gotti the hottest rapper on the streets of Memphis. From the Dope Game to the Rap Game, Yo Gotti’s sophomore effort sold so well that Select-O-Hits, a local based independent distributor offered him a small deal and the Memphis rapper more than doubled his fan base with absolutely no marketing or promotions. Soon he found himself ranked among the city’s top rappers. In addition to being featured on the cover of Murderdog Magazine along side his idols Kingpin Skinny Pimp and Al Kapone his record From the Dope Game to the Rap Game made the list for the magazine’s top independent record for the year 2000.
Two years later he inked a distribution deal with TVT Records and released the critically acclaimed album Life, which did respectable numbers for an independent label. “It sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,” says Yo Gotti. “That record did what it did on its own.” But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gotti’s reputation as the king of Memphis continued to spread and that eventually led him to a production deal with Cash Money/Universal records for his group the Block Burnaz. With his TVT sophomore album entitled Back 2 Da Basics, Yo Gotti returns with the same hardcore street flavor that his die-hard fans have come to know and love, only this time around the true king of Memphis has elevated his game a bit. Given the fact that his last record didn’t do the type of big number he’d hope for you’d think that Yo Gotti would switch up his style to reach a larger audience. Right? Wrong! According to Gotti his street credibility with his underground fans means more to him than gold or platinum status.
“The one thing that you have to understand is that when you create a fan base off of street product the last thing you wanna do is disrespect them by changing because of the record companies and stuff like that. When you do that you change what created you. To me it is very important that I keep in tune with the people that helped to sell 40,000 records independently. That’s why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.”
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insider’s view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on “Full Time,” the amped up lead single –and featured in the MTV Films’ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gotti’s formula to success –hustle full time.
“A lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they don’t wanna put in the time that it takes,” says Yo Gotti. “They want the money and the cars and the girls, but they don’t wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.” On the song “Mama We Gone Be Alright,” he waxes introspective by reflecting on all of the hard times that he and his family have suffered through the years and offers her hope-filled words encouragement. “Mama We Gone Be Alright” along with the gripping tune “My Story” emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like “Shorty” featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
As one of the six epicenters of Southern hip hop, Memphis has always had a thriving underground capable of producing major platinum superstars such as Eightball & MJG, 3-6 Mafia and Project Pat,Skip a.k.a Gianni Booker. All of the above-mentioned artists at one point in time literally dominated the city’s underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Town’s current underground rap kingpin. Like his namesake John Gotti, the Memphis based rapper has been running the Southern underground scene with an iron fist for the past. Known and respected throughout the South for his skill and finesse on the microphone, Yo Gotti is one the South’s most respected young rappers.
Born Mario Mims, Yo Gotti grew up in the infamous Ridge Crest Apartments in a North Memphis neighborhood called Frazier. His childhood was typical for a poor ghetto youth in the Deep South. Raised in a family of hustlers and exposed to hard times 24 hours a day the Tennessee rap titan soon turned to the only thing that he knew could get him paid, hustling. “Being from the hood things like hustling will come your way,” says Yo Gotti. “Everybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.” Ironically, hustling is what ultimately led Yo Gotti to rapping.
Taking his cue from Memphis rap legends such as Eightball & MJG, Al Kapone, Gangsta Black, Triple 6 Mafia and Kingpin Skinny Pimp, all of whom he lists as influences, Yo Gotti released his own underground tape entitled, Youngster on the Come Up and placed it on consignment at local mom & pop record stores as well as hustling it out the trunk. The tape sold like hotcakes on the street and made Yo Gotti the hottest rapper on the streets of Memphis. From the Dope Game to the Rap Game, Yo Gotti’s sophomore effort sold so well that Select-O-Hits, a local based independent distributor offered him a small deal and the Memphis rapper more than doubled his fan base with absolutely no marketing or promotions. Soon he found himself ranked among the city’s top rappers. In addition to being featured on the cover of Murderdog Magazine along side his idols Kingpin Skinny Pimp and Al Kapone his record From the Dope Game to the Rap Game made the list for the magazine’s top independent record for the year 2000.
Two years later he inked a distribution deal with TVT Records and released the critically acclaimed album Life, which did respectable numbers for an independent label. “It sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,” says Yo Gotti. “That record did what it did on its own.” But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gotti’s reputation as the king of Memphis continued to spread and that eventually led him to a production deal with Cash Money/Universal records for his group the Block Burnaz. With his TVT sophomore album entitled Back 2 Da Basics, Yo Gotti returns with the same hardcore street flavor that his die-hard fans have come to know and love, only this time around the true king of Memphis has elevated his game a bit. Given the fact that his last record didn’t do the type of big number he’d hope for you’d think that Yo Gotti would switch up his style to reach a larger audience. Right? Wrong! According to Gotti his street credibility with his underground fans means more to him than gold or platinum status.
“The one thing that you have to understand is that when you create a fan base off of street product the last thing you wanna do is disrespect them by changing because of the record companies and stuff like that. When you do that you change what created you. To me it is very important that I keep in tune with the people that helped to sell 40,000 records independently. That’s why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.”
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insider’s view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on “Full Time,” the amped up lead single –and featured in the MTV Films’ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gotti’s formula to success –hustle full time.
“A lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they don’t wanna put in the time that it takes,” says Yo Gotti. “They want the money and the cars and the girls, but they don’t wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.” On the song “Mama We Gone Be Alright,” he waxes introspective by reflecting on all of the hard times that he and his family have suffered through the years and offers her hope-filled words encouragement. “Mama We Gone Be Alright” along with the gripping tune “My Story” emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like “Shorty” featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
What You Think
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, what would you do?
What would you do?
Got that question so tight
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
A nigger play with yo paper
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
What would you do?
If he set you up
Would you let the shit slide
Would you wave here up
What would you do?
If you didn't come back
And you breaking a sweat
Boy I'll answer next
What would you do?
If your partner turned coward on
What would you do?
If your baby mama turned south
What would you do?
If that pill was right there in yo possession
Would you straight drop it or would you try to stretch it
I got niggers facing life like they ask yourself that question
They just put it on yo ass outside no second guessing
And where the psych is out cause home boy I'm so connected
Had a gift wrapped up right for the streets
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
A nigger play with yo paper
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
What would you do?
If you was in my shoes
Just a ..trying to get yo 100
Your partner give me loose, loose
What would you do
If your partner bitch trying to fall
Your bitch is ready for
No tell your partner what's up
What would you do?
With a mean cash
Or 100 babe
For they last days
And you can smell it through the dance
I hope I don't play before I make it out
Cookie to a chill then you take it out
What would you do?
If a blunt nigger try to fake yo ass
By your own admission leave you unnamed and
And this family calling they asking questions
You ain't got no words
Take kill in the moment yo baby gone
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
A nigger play with yo paper
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
What would you do?
Got that question so tight
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
What would you do?
If he set you up
Would you let the shit slide
Would you wave here up
What would you do?
If you didn't come back
And you breaking a sweat
Boy I'll answer next
What would you do?
If your partner turned coward on
What would you do?
If your baby mama turned south
What would you do?
If that pill was right there in yo possession
Would you straight drop it or would you try to stretch it
I got niggers facing life like they ask yourself that question
They just put it on yo ass outside no second guessing
And where the psych is out cause home boy I'm so connected
Had a gift wrapped up right for the streets
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
A nigger play with yo paper
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
What would you do?
If you was in my shoes
Just a ..trying to get yo 100
Your partner give me loose, loose
What would you do
If your partner bitch trying to fall
Your bitch is ready for
No tell your partner what's up
What would you do?
With a mean cash
Or 100 babe
For they last days
And you can smell it through the dance
I hope I don't play before I make it out
Cookie to a chill then you take it out
What would you do?
If a blunt nigger try to fake yo ass
By your own admission leave you unnamed and
And this family calling they asking questions
You ain't got no words
Take kill in the moment yo baby gone
What would you do?
If a nigger call yourself taken
A nigger play with yo paper
Hey you really got me mistaken
What would you do?
If a nigger saw you rewriting
Then close the phone in yo block
Can you ever replace it?
What would you do?
What would you?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
If a nigger took the stand
But he call yourself yo man
What would you do?
In the song What You Think by Yo Gotti, the artist ponders different situations and asks the listener what they would do if faced with them. The song's lyrics explore scenarios such as being taken advantage of financially or having one's partner turn on them. The urgent and repetitive nature of the chorus "What would you do?" emphasizes the need for quick thinking and action in these situations.
The use of the n-word in this song is controversial and has been criticized. However, it is also important to note that Yo Gotti is a product of his environment and upbringing in Memphis, Tennessee, where the use of this word is common.
The song's theme of reflection and questioning could be interpreted as a commentary on the tough decisions and situations that many people face in their daily lives, particularly those living in low-income communities. The repeated question of "What would you do?" invites empathy and reflection from the listener, reminding them that we all face difficult choices at times.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNMICHAEL GIBSON, ANTWAUN ARNOLD, MARIO S GIDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@juliankaulaity167
Got me thinking about my Lil brother, doing 20 seasons. Gotti too real. #FREEZAE #LONGLIVEZAE #Streetshit
@liltrap1795
Big homie went nuts💯💯💯
@burnone2366
when all ya real hitters dead and gone u don't even want a crew
@miker.4060
" I just woke up wit a issue, ion even know the issue" 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@nationforgents7936
Mike CMG damn G I miss you
@estewilkie7302
agape esta
@estewilkie7302
esta
@drosmith1781
Dissing Dolph
@vajabknahajavjab1862
not gonna lie Yo gotti more mature than dolph. dealing situation like a man
@ricksamuel5260
Vajabkna Hajavjab you said a mouthful then